Pre-paid cell phone

My family will be going to Japan in June, and would like to buy two pre-paid cell phones. I have heard that you have to be a resident to buy. My wife is from Japan. I just need to know the best place to buy. And do they come with a charger? thanks for any help that i can get. mike

You need to be a resident to get a prepaid phone..... usually.

I was at the Shibuya Softbank shop a couple of weeks ago, to buy a prepaid phone for my daughter. Now, before the salesperson realized I had an Alien Registration card, they asked for my PASSPORT !!! This implies that you MAY be able to get a prepaid phone there, without being a resident.

I ended up not getting a phone there, because they didn't have the one my daughter wanted in stock. I went to the Yodobashi Softbank at Akihabara, and they made it clear that I HAD to have an Alien Registration card to buy the phone.

Would like to know where to get in Japan,cost, and any information that may be of help.thanks mike

I just mentioned in my previous post that you could probably get one at the Shibuya Softbank shop!!!!

9800yen for a 3G phone with a camera. (plus a 3000yen prepaid card)

http://mb.softbank.jp/mb/en/prepaid/

The 2G phones should be less.

Don't buy a prepaid cell phone. It's such a pain in the ass (all mobile phone companies are strict with prepaids since they're occasionally used in crime), they're extremely expensive (7000 or so yen just to activate + price of phone + aforementioned 3000 yen prepaid card).

I'd just rent a mobile at Narita Airport upon your arrival.

It's not correct that there is a 7000 yen activation fee.

The 3G phone I got my daughter THREE WEEKS AGO cost 9980 yen, plus 3000 for the card. Total was 12,980 yen(including 3000 yen of calls, of course!!). That's it. Didn't cost any more.

I was at the Shibuya Softbank shop a couple of weeks ago, to buy a prepaid phone for my daughter. Now, before the salesperson realized I had an Alien Registration card, they asked for my PASSPORT !!! This implies that you MAY be able to get a prepaid phone there, without being a resident.

Yes, you may illegally get a prepaid at any store that is negligent about checking identification. However, there are legal ways to get a prepaid, for example, the softbank desk at Narita airport sells prepaid international phones. You don't need to be a resident to purchase one and they work internationally, but the prices were quite a bit higher than domestic prepaids. Either way it doesn't matter for Mike's situation as his wife can legally obtain a prepaid phone.

To Mike:

I just need to know the best place to buy.

The phones tend to cost the same wherever you buy them. The price varies based on phone model. You can buy them at the service provider stores (au or softbank, docomo stopped selling prepaid service), electronics shops, or mobile phone shops.

And do they come with a charger?

Yes, they come with everything you need to operate the phone.

Now if you are a typical traveller needing a phone for a few weeks then I would recommend renting a phone at Narita airport as Dan suggests. It is likely to end up cheaper than getting a prepaid. There isn't an activation fee (as Sandy mentioned) however the per minute call charges are the same for both rentals and prepaid. All charges considered, a typical rental phone will be cheaper than a prepaid if you plan to use it less than 3 weeks. Longer than that and a prepaid may be more economical. Of course it all depends on your particular situation.

Here's the sites for the 2 largest prepaid providers and a list of rental phones available at Narita airport:

au:
http://www.au.kddi.com/english/prepaid/index.html

softbank:
http://mb.softbank.jp/mb/en/prepaid/

rentals:
http://www.narita-airport.jp/en/guide/service/list/svc_19.ht...

and a rental company often recommend on this site:
http://www.japan-guide.com/ad/myjapanphone.html

And more general information about phones in Japan: http://www.japan-guide.com/e/e2223_top.html